Handheld appliance

ABSTRACT

A handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body including an outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed circuit board (PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path wherein, the PCB is housed within a housing. The body may further include an inner wall and the inner wall provides the housing for the PCB and the fluid flow path may extend around the housing. The housing may be generally rectangular and may extend across an internal radius of the outer tube. The fluid flow path may extend around both sides of the housing. The housing may include a heat sink which may be in contact with the fluid flow path on one side and with components on the PCB on the other side.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of United Kingdom Application No. 1614661.5, filed Aug. 30, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a handheld appliance and in particular to a hair care appliance such as a hot styling device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a conventional hot styling appliance, air is drawn into an inlet by a fan unit and directed towards the hair by an outlet. Often, one appliance is provided with different attachments, each having a different outlet and thus a different function, for example drying, curling or volumising. Depending on the style desired, the air may or may not be heated. The attachment may include bristles onto which hair is wrapped and held for styling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention provides a handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body comprising an outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed circuit board (PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path wherein, the PCB is housed within a housing.

Preferably, the body further comprises an inner wall and the inner wall provides the housing for the PCB.

In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow path extends around the housing.

Preferably, the housing is generally rectangular and extends across an internal radius of the outer tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow path extends around both sides of the housing.

Preferably, the housing includes a heat sink.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat sink is in contact with the fluid flow path on one side and with components on the PCB on the other side.

Preferably, the heat sink comprises a metal sheet.

In a preferred embodiment, the metal sheet is sealed with respect to the housing.

Preferably, an upstream end of the housing connects to an electrical connector in the body.

In a preferred embodiment, a downstream end of the housing curves round an end of the PCB.

Preferably, the fluid flow path is split by the housing into a first and a second fluid flow path.

In a preferred embodiment, at the downstream end of the housing the first and the second fluid flow paths are united.

Preferably, the housing is formed in two parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing forms part of an inner wall and the inner wall is formed in two parts.

Preferably, the inner wall additionally houses a fan unit.

In a preferred embodiment, around the PCB the inner wall is generally rectangular and around the fan unit the inner wall is generally circular in shape.

Preferably, the housing forms part of an inner wall and the fluid flow path extends between the inner wall and the outer tube around the housing.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body comprising an outer tube and fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and an inner wall extending within the outer tube wherein a part of the inner wall forms a housing for a PCB and wherein at the housing the fluid flow path extends between the outer tube and the inner wall.

In a preferred embodiment, a part of the inner wall forms a second housing for a fan unit wherein at the second housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.

Preferably, a part of the inner wall forms a third housing for a heater wherein at the third housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.

Preferably, the appliance is a hair care appliance.

In a preferred embodiment, the hair care appliance is a hot styling appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 shows an appliance on which an attachment mechanism according to aspects of the invention can be utilised;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through part of an appliance according to aspects of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through an inner wall according to aspects of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a housing according to aspects of the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a different isometric view of a housing according to aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a hand held appliance 10 is shown. The appliance has a handle 210 and an attachment 20 for styling hair. In order to enable a user to create different styles and to give the appliance multi functionality, the attachment 20 is removable and can be replaced with an alternative attachment. In addition, the attachment 20 can be removed to allow easier storage of the appliance when not in use.

The handle 210 includes a number of different user operated buttons 38, 138 enabling the user to select between a number of different heat and flow settings. The handle 210 is formed from an outer tube 200 and includes a PCB 90, a fan unit 70 which includes a fan and a motor, a heater 80 (both shown schematically) and an inner wall 220. In use the fan unit 70 draws fluid in through a fluid inlet 212, the fluid passes the PCB 90, is drawn through the fan unit 70 and through the heater 80 which optionally heats the fluid which is then emitted by the fluid outlet 22 in the attachment 20. The fluid inlet 212 is the upstream end of the fluid flow path.

The inner wall 220 provides a structure into which the components within the handle 210 can be placed. This eases manufacture and reduces product variation. In particular, the inner wall 220 conveniently provides a housing 222 for the PCB 90. This is not essential as the housing could be a separate part to the inner wall but convenient as it reduces the number of parts.

The PCB 90 is a printed circuit board onto which electronic components are mounted. During use of the appliance, certain of these components can heat up and require cooling. Whilst it is possible to place the PCB in direct contact with the fluid flow path this increases turbulence in the flow through the appliance and increases noise so the housing 222 is provided with a heat sink 224. The heat sink 224 can be any material that conducts heat in this embodiment, it is a metal sheet. A rubber gasket or seal extends between the heat sink 224 and the housing 222

The housing 222 is generally rectangular and in this embodiment, the width W of the housing corresponds to the internal radius of the outer tube 200 and the housing 222 is disposed along a longitudinal axis Y-Y of the handle 210. Fluid entering the fluid flow path 50 at the fluid inlet 212 can pass either side of the PCB 90 within the housing 222. The fluid flow path 50 extends between the inner wall 220 and the outer wall 200 at this position within the fluid flow path 50.

The outer tube 200 is supported by the housing 222 in one direction and to provide support at 90° to this a pair of support fins 226 is provided extending from the housing 222 to the outer tube 210.

Conveniently, the housing 222 and the inner wall 220 are formed from two parts enabling the PCB 90 to be placed in one part of the housing 222 a before the other part of the housing 222 b is attached.

At the upstream end 90 a of the PCB 90, the housing connects to an electrical connector 100 (shown schematically). The electrical connector 100 connects wiring in the appliance via a power cord 102 to a mains electricity supply. Conveniently, the electrical connector is housed within the inner wall 220 in a connector housing 104 connected to the upstream end 22 of the housing 222.

At the downstream end 90 b of the PCB 90, the two parts of the housing 222 a, 222 b curve towards each other and the centre until they meet at a junction 228. Ideally along the whole length of the housing 222 the surface presented to the fluid flow path 50 is smooth and without angular transitions so as to disturb the flow as little as possible.

The next component in the fluid flow path 50 is the fan unit 70 followed by the heater 80. In order for these components to work effectively, the fluid flow path 50 must pass through them. So, downstream of the housing, the inner wall 220 extends from radially opposite sides 30, 32 of the housing 222 to become a circular wall 24 which houses the fan unit 70 and the heater 80. At this point, the fluid flow path 50 extends within the inner wall 220 and becomes a single circular flow rather than the two approximate semicircles formed around the housing 222 of the PCB 90. The inner wall 220 can be considered to include a fan unit housing 72 and a heater housing 82.

The invention has been described in detail with respect to a hot styling device however, it is applicable to any appliance that draws in a fluid and directs the outflow of that fluid from the appliance.

The appliance can be used with or without a heater; the action of the outflow of fluid at high velocity has a drying effect.

The fluid that flows through the appliance is generally air, but may be a different combination of gases or gas and can include additives to improve performance of the appliance or the impact the appliance has on an object the output is directed at for example, hair and the styling of that hair.

The invention is not limited to the detailed description given above. Variations will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. 

1. A handheld appliance comprising a body and an attachment, the body comprising an outer tube and a fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and a printed circuit board (PCB) arranged within the fluid flow path, wherein the PCB is housed within a housing.
 2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises an inner wall and the inner wall provides the housing for the PCB.
 3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path extends around the housing.
 4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the housing is rectangular and extends across an internal radius of the outer tube.
 5. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the fluid flow path extends around both sides of the housing.
 6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a heat sink.
 7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the heat sink is in contact with the fluid flow path on one side and with components on the PCB on the other side.
 8. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the heat sink comprises a metal sheet.
 9. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the metal sheet is sealed with respect to the housing.
 10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein an upstream end of the housing connects to an electrical connector in the body.
 11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein a downstream end of the housing curves round an end of the PCB.
 12. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path is split by the housing into a first and a second fluid flow path.
 13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the first and the second fluid flow paths unite at a downstream end of the housing.
 14. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in two parts.
 15. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the housing forms part of an inner wall and the inner wall is formed in two parts.
 16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the inner wall additionally houses a fan unit.
 17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein around the PCB the inner wall is rectangular and around the fan unit the inner wall is circular.
 18. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing forms part of an inner wall and the fluid flow path extends between the inner wall and the outer tube around the housing.
 19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein a part of the inner wall forms a second housing for a fan unit, and wherein at the second housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.
 20. The appliance of claim 18, wherein a part of the inner wall forms a third housing for a heater wherein at the third housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall.
 21. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a hair care appliance.
 22. The appliance of claim 21, wherein the hair care appliance is a hot styling appliance.
 23. A handheld appliance comprising a body and an attachment, the body comprising an outer tube and a fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet within the outer tube and an inner wall extending within the outer tube, wherein a part of the inner wall forms a housing for a PCB, and wherein at the housing the fluid flow path extends between the outer tube and the inner wall.
 24. The appliance of claim 19, wherein a part of the inner wall forms a second housing for a fan unit, and wherein at the second housing the fluid flow path extends within the inner wall. 